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Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

For the Ones I Love. You know who you are.

Chapter One

Olivia Mendoza found the skirt that she had been hunting for in her closet and laid it out on her bed. She needed something that looked good, but was okay to wear in a lab. So far, the pink and red skirt and matching blouse were the only things she liked. They matched the new shoes that she had gotten earlier and the jewelry that she had picked out. It felt strange to look at all of this. She was never the kind to dress up, but this was a special time. After years of searching, she finally had a job. It had nothing to do with her degree, it wasn’t her first choice, and she hated the hours, but it was something. For now, it was going to do.

This is it, she told herself. You have left the salon you were working in, you got the degree you wanted, and now you got that job you needed before grad school. Vaughn Industries wanted you, and this is when your life is going to begin.

She was surprised that she had gotten that full-time position in the first place. Her only bit of experience had been the last four years when she used to work in Yanitza’s Nail Salon and Spa. All she did was schedule appointments and handle the record books. While she never did anyone’s nails, she had picked up a lot of the skills over there. She had learned how to do her own nails as well as wax her body and give herself facials. It was strange moving from Yanitza’s to Vaughn Industries, especially given her skills. Yanitza and the crew had been great to her, but she could only hire Olivia for part-time work. They just didn’t have enough business to provide with a full-time job, unless she became a manicurist as well. That meant she would have to go to beauty school too, and she had no time for that.

Olivia looked through her things and made sure that she had everything on the checklist. Her driver’s license, resume, and a list of her current classes were already tucked away in her purse. She had laid out the makeup she was going to wear for the first day on her bathroom counter. After trying on various lipsticks, blushes, and eyeliners, she had finally found the perfect combination. She was not a makeup person, but her mother had always told her to look her best. She only had one chance to make a first impression, and it had to be one that let her keep that job. At the same time, she was filled with anxiety. Her nerves were going haywire, and she had barely any time to sit down. Her favorite show was going to be on tonight with a new episode, and she still hadn’t turned on the TV. Her mind was still stuck on Vaughn Industries and the new boss. While she hadn’t spoken to him, she was definitely intimidated.